political journalism and reporting of the 2015 uk general election
TRANSCRIPT
Changing political journalism
Prof Charlie BeckettMadrid, May 2015
What does journalism do for politics?
• Information [facts, records, statistics, events,
policies]• Deliberation [debate, analysis, comment, opinion]• Accountability [investigation, audit, voice for
citizen, campaigns]
The problem with political journalism is..?
The (politician’s) problem with political journalism is..?
• Unaccountable power• Bias• Obsession with process• Cynicism• Lack of information• Lack of expertise• Loss of local press
The (journalist’s) problem with political journalism is..?
• Lack of resources for (political) journalism• Government secrecy• Government and party spin and manipulation• Disintermediation: increased role of social
networks & public relations
The (public’s) problem with political journalism is..?
• Too complicated• Too cynical• Too belligerent, biased• Too much process• Boring• Irrelevant – ‘Westminster
bubble’
• Too simplistic• Not critical enough• Too complicit – not critical
or radical enough• Sensationalist• Not informed enough about
realities of policy-making
Political reporting is now networked
47%: Citizen + journalist = transparency
Potential of ‘new’ media for democracy
• Gives citizen direct voice• Gives citizen direct access to information• Allows citizen to organise and campaign• Allows the public to critique mainstream
media• Makes mainstream media more diverse &
relevant
Dangers of new media democracy
• Fragmentation/polarisation• Bad information/propaganda• Distraction• Short attention span
#Ferguson tweets by party affiliation
Filter bubbles then?
More democratic?
“Journalism will continue to become more plural in its forms, its functions, and its practitioners. It will become more difficult to distinguish it from advocacy political communications, public relations alternative and participatory civic information, personal commentary, poplar culture and so on”
Dahlgren 2009
The political role of networked journalism
• Job of the political journalist becomes to filter, curate and make relevant the right information for the right people
• To be public-centred, customer-focused, reliable, transparent and credible
• While continuing to uphold the traditional functions of acting as an independent reporter, investigator and critic of government
What difference does it make?
• Influence – who has it?• Proportionality – a fair voice?• Verification – what’s true?• Acceleration – faster, instant, all the time• Destabilisation – surprise, ambush, reveal• Superficiality – attention & distraction• Fragmentation or diversity?
Russell Brand: comedian, actor, activist and journalist?
More examples from this election
• Data visualisations• Media campaigns – Sky News/Standup and be
counted• Variety of coverage – human interest• TV debate saga – most effective BBCQT• More exposure for minority parties• SNP exceptionalism in journalism terms• Facebook v twitter?
Redefine ‘Journalist’
• Curator• Partner • Social networker• Specialist
How to get people’s attention
GE2015: reporting on fake facts
TV reaction polls more accurate
GE2015: reporting on a fake campaign
In age of distraction attend to fundamentals
